A former school teacher is showing gratitude by supporting a cause.
By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org
For nearly half of her life, Amy Davis suffered from the side effects of teenage diabetes. In her adult life, the disease evolved from uncertainty to fear.
“I can’t spot the high from the low. I used one of the first continuous blood glucose monitors and unfortunately the technology is not as good as it is now,” said 53-year-old Davis.
For more than 20 years, Davis taught high school psychology and was open about her condition with students. Twenty-nine years ago, she married her husband, Jeff. They have two adult sons.
“When my kids were young, I was scared to drive with them because my sugar would drop. My husband could barely sleep because three of the seven nights I was so low I had seizures. I was afraid my children would find me dead,” Davis said.
Those are the words she shared with IU Medical Doctor Jonathan Fridell, as she weighed the risks of a pancreas transplant.
She received that transplant in 2012. Five years later, she received a kidney transplant at IU Health. She remains under the care of Dr Asif Sharfuddin, who specializes in kidney and kidney disease.
“I feel pretty great. I am no longer scared to drive or not wake up,” Davis said. To protect her immune system, she is no longer in the classroom. She now works remotely as a health coach.
“This year I decided to do as much as I can to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation,” said Davis, who lives in Greenville, Ohio. She’s been to two 5K events and has signed up for two more, including the Indiana Sponsors Network, “Walk to Save Lives” on October 8.
In addition to fundraising, Davis also raises awareness. She wears t-shirts that announce she is a “transplant survivor” and “an organ recipient”. She also showed off a license plate of her car with the words: “Transplant recipient.” Twice a year, she sends “thank you” letters to her donor families.
In one of her most challenging feats to date, Davis recently participated in Cleveland’s “Over the Edge” event. Participants flocked down the side of the 23-story Oswald Center.
“I am still here today because of the selfless choice of two organ donors. I believe I am personally indebted to these unsung heroic angels who are always watching over me to educate people about the importance of organ donation,” Davis said. “That means conquering my fears and living my life to the fullest.”
